Detroit Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter tips his cap to the crowd at Angels Stadium on Friday night. MICHAEL GOULDING, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM – The Angels fans wore their No. 48 jerseys again. But it wasn't for the starting pitcher and first-year Angel, Tommy Hanson, who took the mound and now has the number.

They put on the No. 48 for the popular man who donned the jersey faithfully for five seasons before Hanson.

They piled in around right field, brought signs, rose to their feet and lifted their voices. But it was not for Josh Hamilton, who now starts there for the Angels.

They gave a standing ovation to the veteran who used to play right field for the Angels.

On Friday night, Torii Hunter returned to Angel Stadium for the first time as a former Angel-turned-Detroit Tiger and was given what he called "a pile of love."

"This night was special but tough," Hunter said after the game. "I tip my hat to these fans and had a deep swallow (for my emotions)."

Hunter deserved every bit of the tributes and the thank you's, big and small, big-screen and handwritten.

All were heartfelt and appropriate for the gentleman ballplayer who went all-in for the Angels always, on the field, in the clubhouse and in the community.

Hundreds of fans in year-old Hunter jerseys and T-shirts came early to cheer him when he first jogged into the outfield to shag balls during batting practice.

The applause erupted again for him when public address announcer Michael Araujo introduced the Tiger batting second and playing right field.

Most in the announced crowd of 39,023 stood when Hunter came to the plate for his first at-bat in the first inning. The fans put down their hot dogs, sodas, beers, programs, cell phones and babies, and they clapped.

Even the Angels, who told Hunter they couldn't afford more than a one-year, $5 million deal to keep him, didn't let themselves get left out of the reunion.

When Hunter came up for his first at-bat, the giant videoboard in right field illuminated with images of Hunter high-fiving teammates after an Angels victory, of Hunter swinging his bat and of Hunter's "Toriitown" sign raised by fans. A message – "Thank you Torii" – ran across the bottom in white script.

Hunter said he had run into Angels owner Arte Moreno, President John Carpino and Chairman Dennis Kuhl at a Newport Coast restaurant on Thursday night while meeting Mike Trout for dinner, and everything "was cool. No resentment."

Friday was "all love," Hunter said.

Below the videoscreen stood the fan group that had held up the "Toriitown" sign for the previous two seasons. For this reunion, they hoisted high a new "Thank U Torii" sign.

Others raised "I (heart) Torii" and "Thanks for the Memories" posters for the All-Star beyond the box score.

"If I get a standing O, that means I did my job," Hunter said before going to work for the Tigers.

His loyalty firmly lies with the Tigers, who signed him to a two-year, $26 million deal in November and gave him his best hopes for finally laying desperate claim to that long-sought World Series ring.

But when he took his position in the outfield in the bottom of the first inning and the "Thank U Torii" sign went up, Hunter tipped his cap to his fans. He patted his heart and pointed to the crowd.

This is what the Angels are missing. The fans showed their appreciation for him each time he came to the plate, warmly receiving him, even when he tried to beat the home team. He went 2 for 4, upping his major league-leading average to .418.

This was a strange night for Hunter, who arrived at the ballpark three hours before the game.

During early Angels batting practice, Hunter, in a plaid shirt and jeans, was standing outside the visitors dugout, telling stories to the guys who'll be his friends forever.

"Once I get to know you, I'm your buddy for life. I'm your older brother for life. That's what I do," Hunter said about his lasting ties. "I try to build relationships with these guys. Even when they're gone or retired, I still talk to all my guys."

"This was home," Hunter said from the visitors dugout before the game.

"Coming in as a visitor is weird but I've been that guy before," said Hunter, who spent his first 11 seasons with the Minnesota Twins before joining the Angels.

Hunter used to have a house here, in Newport Coast. He sold it four weeks ago, coincidentally, to Tigers fans. He left them a housewarming gift: his framed Angels jersey still hanging in the game room.

He had moved out and moved on.

"I missed those guys and have love for them, and they know I'm just here on business," said Hunter, who, despite all the night's emotion, still wanted to win.

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